RitaH & Alan::I read the posts & am forced to say, That PRIDE caused satans Downfall, he wanted to be the greatest! he is using the same tool to imbibe this into those who care & dare to be his followers.That is why God in Genesis said "His head will be crushed " & the resultant saying PRIDE HAS A DOWNFALL.---Beware "He who exalts himself shall be humbled".

Alan, regarding some feeling superior, yes I think that some do, unfortunately. However, I think that this is so in many churches. It has certainly been so in most of the ones I've attended over a long period. Very sad isn't it?

To most Christians today, a church is a non-profit corporation having certain man-made by-laws and man-made traditions in their particular denominations - almost cultlike in themselves. According to Scripture, the church is the body of believers, a group of Christians, of people who believe. It's people - period. Any membership in a particular denomination is pledging to man's church, not God's church.

RitaH , That sounds a bit exclusive to me ... I'm sure you don't. having read you so much here, but I wonder whehter some "members" somehow feel superior to the mere "attenders" or "enquirers"?And I'm surprised that your church is convinced by someone "giving a testimony".It's easy to learn a part, and sound convincing.

Churches seem to vary greatly in who can and cannot become a member. My previous church allowed anyone to become a member if they asked for membership and were regular attenders. My present church does not make anyone a member unless they are convinced the person is a Christian - by their being able to give their testimony. Also in this church only members are offered communion.

There should be no membership role. There is only one Church, the Church of Jesus Christ, of which He is the head. The only aggreement that should be made is between each individual and the Lord Jesus. Many denominations have their own hierarchy of leadership. Their by-laws and doctines are made by man rather than God Himself. The Holy Spirit needs to have freedom to direct a church and its services as it see fit, not the way man sees fit.

In my church the main purpose for membership is making decisions that affect the church. Eg: Do we want to support a new missionary? Take a vote. Do we want to use funds for an air conditioner upgrade? Take a vote. Do we want to buy new cribs for the nursery? Take a vote. Members make the churches decisions.

There is nothing wrong with churches having memberships. My church does not close it's doors on anyone... all are welcome to come worship and hear a great message. But if you ask to be a member we do have 1 stipulation that you must meet. You would stand in front of the congregation and the pastor asks, "have you accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal savior?" If you answer yes, then membership granted.

I believe this is done so that one congregation does not get mad at another for donations when members go to another church. I heard a pastor some time back say, that it was so that another church would not feel like you are giving to another while member of the one you belong to. Loyalty I suppose. So this way, when they get you to sign, they inform the other church of your commitment. And the other will already know you have gone there. Keep trouble away from the churches.

No. any church should not make someone sign their name to some piece of paper before they can "belong" there, regardless of the reason. A church is the house of God, all and I mean all are (well should be) welcomed.

No, churches should not do this. Each individual is answerable to God not other individuals. If this is in practice in some churches (and I've never heard that it is) then I wonder who decides which sins are 'acceptable' and which are not. People would soon begin church hopping to find the church that tolerated their particular sin. What a thought.

This practice is very wrong with little or no understanding of man's fallin sin nature. Also a church which practices excommunication is indirectly stating that they(that church) controls salvation-who enters Heaven. Think about how utterly ridiculous this is.